‘They’re a language, an identity’: The sacredness of Yawanawa markings

Face and body paint hold profound cultural and spiritual significance in the Yawanawa tradition, which is indigenous to the Brazilian Amazon and dates back thousands of years. The designs, known as KENE and created using natural plant dyes, communicate spiritual wisdom and serve as protections against envy, illness and evil spirits.

It was this connection between spirituality and art embedded at the heart of KENE, as well as the music of Wanu Yawanawa, a singer from the Yawanawa tribe, that drew the interest of photographer Suleika Mueller. As part of her ongoing project, RAYS, which explores female-identifying artists whose art serves as both a personal spiritual practice and outward creative expression, Mueller photographed Wanu – a celebration of her singing and her profound relationship with nature, the depth of her lineage, and the resilience of her culture.

An artist and teacher, as well as a singer, Wanu shares her tribe’s traditional sacred chants through the guitar, in a blend of cultural heritage and contemporary music. Through her practices, she makes these ancient traditions and indigenous wisdom accessible to more people across the globe, alongside raising awareness and funds to protect her rainforest home.

“Singing is central to the sacred ceremonies of the Yawanawa and deeply interwoven with their spirituality,” says Mueller. “I was particularly inspired by how Wanu’s voice transcends performance; it embodies wisdom and serves as a powerful tool for healing. This exploration of sound as a spiritual medium felt like a natural continuation of RAYS’ overarching theme: creativity as a divine conduit.” It was the make-up that allowed these themes to be conveyed visually, demonstrating how Wanu’s spiritual practice and cultural identity are reflected in every aspect of her life, including her appearance. “The paint embodies identity, beauty, protection, and wisdom – making it an essential expression of who she is,” as Mueller says.

Why is it so important to keep the spiritual traditions and knowledge of your people alive? 

Wanu Yawanawa [translated from Portuegese]: I believe that preserving our spiritual traditions and ancestral knowledge is like keeping the spirit of the forest alive. Everything we know today has been passed down through generations, and without this transmission, we risk losing not just our stories but also our connection to ourselves.

By honouring and continuing these traditions, we ensure that future generations carry forward our wisdom. If we fail to cherish it, this invaluable knowledge will inevitably fade away. Spirituality and knowledge are deeply intertwined, forming the foundation of our culture. Though we may no longer live as our ancestors once did, our culture remains vibrant and alive.

What is the significance of this make-up in your tribes and culture?

Wanu Yawanawa [translated from Portuegese]:The markings on my people’s skin are so much more than just makeup – they’re a language, an identity, and a form of protection. We call them KENE: cultural and spiritual drawings. Each design carries its own meaning, connecting us to spirits, nature, and the forces that guide us.

How did the use of make-up in the shoot help convey the spiritual and cultural identities?

Suleika Mueller: Face and body paint hold profound cultural and spiritual significance in the Yawanawa tradition. The designs, called KENE, go far beyond beautification; they communicate spiritual wisdom and serve as protections against envy, illness, and evil spirits. They are deeply tied to cultural identity, as specific symbols and designs are unique to the Yawanawa tribe. This makes the paint not only an emblem of individual and communal heritage but also a testament to the enduring connection between art and spirituality. The use of natural pigments emphasises the Yawanawa’s deep relationship with the earth, while the designs hold profound meaning embedded in their traditions.

Integrating these elements into the visual narrative was crucial to portraying how Wanu’s spiritual practice and cultural identity are reflected in every aspect of her life, including her appearance. The paint embodies identity, beauty, protection, and wisdom—making it an essential expression of who she is.

How do you combine your activism with your artistic expression?

Wanu Yawanawa [translated from Portuegese]: When I sing and draw, I bring forth the voice of my people and the forest. My culture, my art and my music are living territories of resistance. They are a way of showing who I am and how I live my life. This is not just something I tend to show, but something I practice. My artistic expression is a bridge between worlds.

What we create within my culture touches people’s hearts and transforms the awareness of those unfamiliar with the richness of my culture, teaching them that we are not a distant past but a living present. Each piece of art carries the memory of my ancestors. When I take my art beyond my homeland, I also carry the forest and its beauty with me. People connect with what we create, and in some way, our artistic expression moves them, reshaping their perspective – turning art into a form of teaching. Activism is our very existence and resistance, proof that we are alive.

How did you approach capturing a representation of Wanu’s culture?

Suleika Mueller: Spending a few days with Wanu allowed me the time to listen to and understand her story, tradition and practices. It was important to me to ensure I understood the intention and significance behind her rituals. The process was highly collaborative, shaped by ongoing conversations about how to visually express the essence of her practice while honouring the musical elements central to Yawanawa ceremonies. During this time, I also participated in one of her ceremonies, which offered a profound, experiential insight into her practice.

I wanted to create a photo series that highlights her reverence for nature, the central role of song, and her cultural resilience. Another aspect I wanted to bring forward is how her music serves as both a connection to her ancestors and a living practice that is deeply intertwined with her cultural identity. The visual language should honour and reflect the sacredness of her traditions while celebrating her unique contributions to the preservation and continuation of her heritage.

What message would you like to share with the world through these images?

Wanu Yawanawa [translated from Portuegese]: My message to the world is: listen. Listen to the voice of your ancestors, listen to the call of the earth, listen to the silence of the forest before it turns into a cry.

Our ancestors’ lives depended on the forest; the forest is our home, our food source, medicine and spirituality. Today, we see how it’s being destroyed by non-indigenous people, through deforestation, pollution, global harming and other threats. The forest is the heart of the planet and by not caring for it we’re compromising the future of humanity. The world has forgotten how to live in harmony, which is why it is so important that our culture keeps echoing the reminder that we are all part of something bigger.
 We are not the past, we are the present and the future. May these images awaken the dormant memory within each of us as I truly believe that everyone, deep inside, has roots in the earth – and it is time to act on it.

How do you see this project contributing to the larger conversations about the importance of environmental preservation?

Suleika Mueller: The Yawanawa live in profound harmony with nature, viewing it as a sacred entity rather than a resource to exploit. Wanu’s worldview and tradition reflects an inseparable bond with the environment, where the entire natural world – forests, rivers, the earth, the sun and moon, plants and animals – is seen as alive and imbued with spirit. Through rituals and ceremonies, the Yawanawa connect with these spirits and the universe as a whole, reinforcing a way of life that is in balance with nature.

This project inevitably highlights this deep interconnection. By sharing Wanu’s voice, tradition and wisdom, it encourages people to reflect on their own relationship with nature and question what it truly means to live in harmony with the earth. It’s an invitation to listen – to Indigenous wisdom, to the earth itself – and to consider how we, as a society, can find our way back to honouring and respecting the natural world.

By amplifying the voices of women like Wanu – whose lives are intrinsically tied to environmental preservation – I hope this project contributes to broader conversations about the urgent need to protect our planet. Her story reminds us that caring for the environment isn’t just about sustainability; it’s about recognising our shared connection to the living world and embracing a more sacred relationship with it.